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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,442 comments Add your comment
PWHjort
July 20th, 2009
4:52 pm
I don’t know if I’m the first to make this observation, but holy crap, Jonathan Sanchez looks nearly identical to this guy: http://www.getthebigpicture.net/storage/pics/jesusq.jpg
chilidog75
July 20th, 2009
4:52 pm
Curtis,
You’re starting to obsess, man.
We get it. Kotchman isn’t a power hitter. And he’s slow.
We’d all love to have Gonzalez or Pujols over here. But that aint happening. Kotchman is a serviceable bat (.280 and a .355 OBP isn’t TERRIBLE) and he’s a gold glove caliber first baseman. He’s not going to hit 30 homers or drive in 110, but he’s the best option right now. If you move Prado over to first and play Conrad at second, that makes you weaker at TWO different positions defensively.
Heck, he’s usually the No. 8 hitter. What kind of stats do you expect from your No. 8 hitter?
CB
July 20th, 2009
4:52 pm
I used to think I was really dumb, but some of you guys make me feel Much better.
Baba O'Riley
July 20th, 2009
4:52 pm
Gotta Go. Adam 12 and Dragnet are approaching. You gotta love Retro TV
Soph
July 20th, 2009
4:53 pm
Thanks for the new blog Carroll! I’m glad you at least attempted to reconcile differences with Esco. Not sure how he took it but it’s the thought that counts.
Roy Hobbs
July 20th, 2009
4:53 pm
Paul, I agree with your ideas on the Detroit trade. But, I really dont see how its any different than the Tex trade. Detroit got an aging player to try to make a run at a World Series and they failed. Atlanta got a player in his prime to try to make a run at the playoffs and they failed, and then could not afford to keep him.
Personally, I am not really big on the McClouth trade. I like Mcclouth, but I think they gave up way to much for him. I liked Charlie Morton, and loved Gorkys and Locke. I dont see this as a year the Braves can do much, and I was excited to think that Gorkys might turn into a prototype leadoff hitter around the same time Freeman and Heyward moved up to the majors. I know he is a prospect, and might not turn out. But its equally likely that the Braves will miss the playoffs again this year even with McClouth.
nolie
July 20th, 2009
4:54 pm
What I wonder about Barbaro is whether an AL team would give us a decent prospect in order to secure themselves at DH for a while (GV)
I have wondered why they haven’t done that too. Obviously he wouldn’t bring much butI’m thinking that if they trade with an AL team they should push him as part of a deal. It’s pretty obvious over the last few years that they have no real plans for him other than emergency backup,though it is nice to have one who can hit well.
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
4:54 pm
Wayne in Utah…………….I’ll say one more time so you will understand, after this, I wont try to explain this to you anymore. I NEVER SAID THAT BRAVES MANAGEMENT READS THESE BLOGS.
What I SAID, was that management and players have family and friends who do read blogs. Inevitably, some of what is said on blogs and talk radio gets back to players and management.
Last night I gave 2 PRIME examples of that. 1. the “reaction” of bloggers and talk radio the day that the Braves released Tom Glavine and called up Tommy Hanson. It caused such an “uproar” that John Schuerholtz held a press conference the next day to address it. Personally, I didnt think that the Braves handled it the wrong way. However, Schuerholtz “took note” of the online and talk radio reaction and had to do something to address it.
2. The blogger who made a posting addressing the “possibility” of Raul Ibanez’s hot start being linked to steroid use. Dude didnt come out and say that Ibanez was on steroids. He just said that in the sports climate we live in, given what has happened in the past with other “older” athletes who put up great numbers………it would not be a surprise for speculation to begin concerning Ibanez’s numbers.
Well, word got back to Ibanez and he had a hissy fit. It became a topic for national discussion.
So dont tell me that word doesnt get back to players and management on what is said on blogs.
However, you are the kind of person who interprets “eventually getting back to management”….to……”me saying that management reads these blogs every day”.
I suggest you brush up on your comprehension skills.
Jaglawyer
July 20th, 2009
4:54 pm
Wainwirght ERA last 3 seasons . . .3.70; 3.20; 3.01
Averaging 8 strikeouts per 9 innings
I guess I could keep going . . . yes, I think he should be considered a top of the rotation guy.
Not quite sure why you would be referring to me as son. Kind of juvenile, boy.
jeffrey d
July 20th, 2009
4:54 pm
aha….Plato’s Apology
dogsbrekky
July 20th, 2009
4:55 pm
We are making the playoffs, get on board now, have a bet on us to win the NL East, everything in the media (crowing about the fillies) is just too cutesy and convenient… got a gut feeling about this one
Almost cried when Watson’s ball flew through 18 yesterday, guy has class though
DWW
July 20th, 2009
4:55 pm
I cant believe the hit and run with Esco has turned into such a big deal. To me it looked like the pitch almost hit him and he was preparing for it. The pitch had some movement and slid back away from him. I dont think he missed the sign and I cant blame him for reacting that way to a ball he thought might hit him.
Loaf Garret on a blackberry from the massage table in the clubhouse
July 20th, 2009
4:56 pm
ATTENTION ALL BLOGGERS:
Unless you are actually Leo Mazzone, stop posting as him.
Thank you.
Yeah, posting as someone else is lame.
The Bird and Indian
July 20th, 2009
4:56 pm
Curtis Jones: Oh great another negative prick on here. Wait did you just say we were barely in the race? Oh I didn’t know that 7 back in the division and 4.5 back in the wild card with 70 games to play was barely in the race. Casey Kotchman is easily in the top 5 fielding 1st basemen if not the best. Nobody is happy about 500. ball but at the same time we realize it was worse than that a month ago and we are one of the hotter teams in baseball.
ncscoots
July 20th, 2009
4:56 pm
his ex-stepmom’s mother was my next door neighbor growing up in VIDALIA!
Well, there you go, then, Baba. All is explained, LOL.
I am certainly not trying to disparage Wainwright, far from it. I like the guy.
jeffrey d
July 20th, 2009
4:56 pm
I used to think I was really dumb, but some of you guys make me feel Much better.
I know. Next to some of these guys you’d think that I just split an atom and manned the first flight to Jupiter. All while delivering a baby.
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
4:56 pm
Leo Mazzone……….I never said that the Braves got “shafted” in the Tex trade. I’m not sure where you got that from.
However, I am looking forward to the 4 game series with the Giants. I see no reason why we cant win at least 3 of the 4 games. I see big opportunity here.
jeffrey d
July 20th, 2009
4:57 pm
Loaf shouldn’t you be at BP??
ncscoots
July 20th, 2009
4:58 pm
aha….Plato’s Apology
Amazingly (or maybe not), not its first appearance in this forum.
Efrim
July 20th, 2009
4:58 pm
Roy Hobbs, I think trading for an outfielder was a must for the Braves at that point. We needed someone, anyone, who could give us at least average offense at the position. I agree that we gave up a bit more than I would of liked too, but it was really just Jeff Locke that upsets me. Hernandez is a ways off. Heck, so is Locke. Were we really going to wait until 2011 for Locke, and Hernandez to show up? Who knows if they would even stick at that point. I’m not saying the Braves are going to go all for it this year and next, but with the moves they made this offseason, and the depth they had at the time of the trade, you can’t be that suprised they went in that direction. McLouth isn’t a great player, but he’s pretty good. And we needed a pretty good outfielder at that point, and probably next year too.
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
4:58 pm
Leo Mazzone……….uh, we did get swept in San Francisco. I live in San Francisco and went to all 3 loses. We didnt play 4 games in San Francisco.
You might want to re-check your facts.
Loaf Garret on a blackberry from the massage table in the clubhouse
July 20th, 2009
5:00 pm
Loaf shouldn’t you be at BP??
Just got done. Professionals like me only need a few cuts.
JBoog1285
July 20th, 2009
5:00 pm
Lineup
1. McLouth
2. Prado
3. Jones
4. McCann
5. Escobar
6. Anderson
7. Diaz
8. Kotchman
9. Hanson
MFin04
July 20th, 2009
5:00 pm
Agreed, no way in heck that Esco can foul that pitch off. Shouldn’t have been hitting and running in that situation anyways…but there isn’t really anything Esco could have done with a pitch coming towards his face. Natural reaction is to bail, not swing to foul it off. Don’t think he could have fouled it off anyways.
I’m going to stay on the optimistic side of things for this series. Braves have to keep winning series and get an occasional sweep. Not like you can make up much ground going 2-1 on the time. Especially if the Phillies are going to continue to go 2-1 and 3-0 in series. Look we went 3-1 against the Mets, and still lost a game on the Phils because they went 3-0-1.
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
5:00 pm
Epinephrine………….I agree with your 4:32pm posting. Sanchez has not pitched very well at all this year, the no-hitter being the exception. He wont be pitching tonight in the friendly confines of AT&T Park. I expect the Braves to get to Sanchez tonight.
glord
July 20th, 2009
5:01 pm
ncscoots
July 20th, 2009
4:43 pm
Wainwright is most definitely a top of the rotation type pitcher. Are you serious?
Guess it depends on your definition, son. Maybe you could compare him to someone, so that I can get a read on who you consider front-line.
I agree that Wainwright is a frintline starter. I would rank him around the 20th best pitcher in baseball which makes him a #1 starter for many teams. I think he falls in with the Vasquez, Lacky, Oswalt crowd.
The guy has a 3.00 ERA and is on pace for 17 wins and 210 Ks. Last year he was 11 – 3 with a 3.20 era when he got hurt.
I would rather have Wainwright back than all the players from the Tex trade.
PWHjort
July 20th, 2009
5:01 pm
Funny, Loaf.
dgd
July 20th, 2009
5:01 pm
Gboro Bravo–The best way to get great seats for games at Nationals park is day of or day before a game using Stubhub.com. I have season tickets in the Diamond Club section and tickets to a number of games three rows behind home plate and if they haven’t sold by the day of the game, I list them for half price. Those tickets all include food as well, so in Diamond Club seats for half price you pay $75 but that includes $35 per ticket worth of food and drink (not alcohol). You also have access to the Diamond Club restaurant if you want to go inside for a while. The cheaper seats are also plentiful and discounted by day of or day before a game, but you get far bigger savings from the more expensive seats. Hope you have fun!
ncscoots
July 20th, 2009
5:01 pm
Not quite sure why you would be referring to me as son. Kind of juvenile, boy.
That might have come from the “Are you serious” part of your post. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, no harm meant. If I intend to insult someone here, I’m rarely ambiguous about it.
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
5:02 pm
Leo Mazzone………….ATTENTION LEO MAZZONE…………if you dont like someone’s posting, either IGNORE it or REPORT it to the AJC.
I’m not going to refrain from posting my long postings, just to placate your ADD.
Steve from OH
July 20th, 2009
5:02 pm
Efrim, have you seen Locke’s numbers at Lynchburg? 5.30 ERA, 50 hits in 35 innings…ouch. I don’t see Gorkys as much more than a 4th-OF/Juan Pierre type anyway. Well, that with really good D. But Schafer’s is supposed to be better, and his stick will likely be better, so I’m glad we kept him…
Sgt. Pepper
July 20th, 2009
5:03 pm
anyone know some good places to eat in Baltimore?
Efrim
July 20th, 2009
5:04 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4341612&name=gammons_peter
I love Gammons, but how in the world do you entitle the blog “Phillies must make trade for Halladay” then two paragraphs down start talking about the Red Sox? I mean, everyone knows you love them, but come on man. You work for ESPN. Stop with the nonsense.
Heath (Cleveland)
July 20th, 2009
5:04 pm
Paul -
Don’t regress, sir.
dogsbrekky
July 20th, 2009
5:05 pm
Whatever happened to all of those mutts fans on here and wearing their 2008 mutts hats on the streets of NYC, did they all get the bird flu’
Efrim
July 20th, 2009
5:05 pm
And to add to the last post, it’s not one of those articles that’s a mixed bag, it is one article that just flows right into the Red Sox. I guess, Blue Jays, AL East, then to Red Sox? Was that the flow?
jeffrey d
July 20th, 2009
5:06 pm
Sanchez has not pitched very well at all this year, the no-hitter being the exception
If I’m not mistaken, he pitched well against us.
Ahh, just looked it up…2 ER and 4 hits in 5 innings. Not bad but not lights out.
Steve from OH
July 20th, 2009
5:06 pm
but there isn’t really anything Esco could have done with a pitch coming towards his face.
That pitch was nowhere near his face. He could easily have fouled it off.
Hey Paul, can you get off the ADD thing? People with ADD aren’t lepers, you fool.
dogsbrekky
July 20th, 2009
5:06 pm
Sgt pepper – ate a great seafood place on the harbor a few years back in Baltimore, think it is called Julias, or Julios………..
jeffrey d
July 20th, 2009
5:06 pm
Hey Paul – you live in San Francisco? Why are you a Braves fan? You use to live out here?
Just curious
Roy Hobbs
July 20th, 2009
5:08 pm
Efrim, thats a great response, and valid points. I guess my feeling is more from the point of view that management knew there were problems in the outfield before the year started. Overpaying in the middle of the year to fix a problem you should have already taken care of should not get you kudos.
McClouth is a good young player. I am happy he is a Brave, I just dont agree with all the sentiment about Gorkys being so far away. If he is 2011, so are Freeman and Heyward, which might be fine. They are all young.
On a side note, I was happy to see how well Charlie Morton pitched on Saturday.
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:09 pm
Sgt. Pepper
McDonald’s is always consistent….
(sorry, couldn’t resist)
Jaglawyer
July 20th, 2009
5:10 pm
Not to keep harping on the Wainwirght thing, but I think he has beaten the Braves every single time he has faced them. He was pissed about being traded away.
Steve from OH
July 20th, 2009
5:10 pm
On a side note, I was happy to see how well Charlie Morton pitched on Saturday.
Me too. I hope the kid does well. He’s easy to root for.
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
5:10 pm
Roy Hobbs………the BIG difference between the Detroit and Texas trades is that the Braves have gotten IMMEDIATE dividends from Jair Jurrjens last year and this year. Dude is pitching well for us.
However, the Texas Rangers havent gotten NEARLY the production of the 5 guys combined they received for Teixeria…………………that we have gotten from Jurrjens. Plus we used the other player we acquired in the Jurrjens trade (Gorkys Hernandez) to help us acquire Nate McLouth. McLouth has provided Dividends.
Harrison, Salty, and Andrus have played with the Rangers since they acquired them. Harrison has been hurt with a career ERA of almost 6. Salty, not much power, low average. Andrus, good defense, very little offense.
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:12 pm
Salamander
I bet if we traded our 5-7 “no reads”, they would be close to identical.
Steve from OH
July 20th, 2009
5:13 pm
I bet if we traded our 5-7 “no reads”, they would be close to identical.
Yep.
Efrim
July 20th, 2009
5:14 pm
This from the Gammons article, I agree with:
“Considering Boston’s young pitching and the Padres’ lack of it (although 21-year-old right-hander Mat Latos threw 96 mph Sunday), a multi-prospect deal for Adrian Gonzalez makes sense for both teams. The Padres’ ownership is worried about the public perception if the team were to trade away Gonzalez. Fans? What fans?”
I know people have said that the Padres would be fools to part with Adrian, because he is signed cheaply and the fans won’t show up if he is there. But he is turning 28 next May and this is his contract details: 09:$3M, 10:$4.75M, 11:$5.5M club option (no buyout). Clearly, he is dirt cheap. I’d hold onto him through this year if I was SD, but with Kyle Blanks around, and serious talent issues in the majors and minors, why wouldn’t you send him packing for a Tex-like package?
jeffrey d
July 20th, 2009
5:14 pm
Not to keep harping on the Wainwirght thing, but I think he has beaten the Braves every single time he has faced them. He was pissed about being traded away.
Just punched some numbers….our current Braves team is 23/100 (.230….duh) against him. Greg Norton of all people is batting 1.000 with a HR against Wainwright
Paul Lentz
July 20th, 2009
5:14 pm
Heath (Cleveland)………….hey, I’m behaving, lol. I havent called anyone names or attacked them personally. I just addressed the fact that I’m not going to quit posting, just because they dont like to read long postings.
You have to admit, when someone “openly” posts that they dont read anything longer than a short paragraph because they find it “boring”…..then it is just TOO HARD to resist coming back with the “ADD” qujp, lol.
Bubdylan
July 20th, 2009
5:14 pm
Lentz, you can’t “placate” ADD, strictly speaking. Unless ADD is a person. Never use a ten dollar word when a ten cent word will do? Or, in your case, when eleven thousand ten cent words will do.
MFin04
July 20th, 2009
5:16 pm
Escobar shouldn’t have had to foul the pitch off, and it wasn’t an easy pitch to foul off, high and inside. If anyone should be blamed, it should be Bobby for hitting and running in the first place.
blazon
July 20th, 2009
5:16 pm
Diamond Jim…
the way Dish is showing that tuesday game in their guide under ‘Dish Season Ticket’ suggests some form of ppv to me…hope i’m wrong.
The A Bomb
July 20th, 2009
5:17 pm
Paul Lentz –
This has little to do with your entries because frankly I form my own opinions. . .
But since you’ve been busy correcting people all day long, let me correct you on a misspelling. . .
Jair JurrJens = Good young Braves pitcher
Jair JurrGens = Close to spelling of national brand of lotion
For your records. Now you may continue your assault on your keyboard.
Efrim
July 20th, 2009
5:17 pm
“If he is 2011, so are Freeman and Heyward, which might be fine.”
I kind of disagree with this because Hernandez might just have to repeat Double-A for as bad as he has been this year. He won’t. I bet Pitt moves him to Triple-A next year, but he’s been that bad. I just don’t see Gorkys making an impact at the major league level as soon as Freeman and Heyward(especially) will.
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:17 pm
Charlie Morton was a real likeable guy.
I will never fully understand the constant rehashing of past trades. That stuff is history, and has absolutely nothing to do with what is going on right now with our team.
I know about the “those that refuse to learn from the past stuff…”, but that is for Frank Wren and his staff.
I know, its fun sometimes to talk about it, but we sometimes get fixated on these things, and next thing you know, that dead horse is a bloody pile of flesh, totally unrecognizable.
BTW, I am still ticked about that Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio, Bobby Shantz and Doug Clemens deal back in ‘64!
BUZZMEAT
July 20th, 2009
5:18 pm
what was the roster move for Hanson?
wheelz007
July 20th, 2009
5:18 pm
Heath- I’m pulling for Pujols to pull it off.
hoho
July 20th, 2009
5:19 pm
maybe we should all leave Paul Lentz alone. It’s POSSIBLE all of his time spent posting is “therapy” for him (that’s a lot of therapy, btw). I’ve just started skipping most of his posts, they’re clearly more for HIS “benefit” than anything else.
Paul Lentz, it’s not necessarily ADD that keeps some of us from reading ALL of your posts. Sometimes people who do all the talking at the party end up in a room by themselves.
(Yes, he’s “STILL” talking away in there).
The Bird and Indian
July 20th, 2009
5:20 pm
The A Bomb: Maybe when you correct somebody you should be correct. It is actually Jair Jurrjens my friend.
The Bird and Indian
July 20th, 2009
5:22 pm
And now I feel stupid. Sorry i misread your post. My bad.
hoho
July 20th, 2009
5:22 pm
Dang it! Forgot to add LOL before closing those parenthesis.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 20th, 2009
5:22 pm
What the hell is going on in this blog today????
Does everyone feel cheated that we can’t rip on Jeff Francoeur anymore so we’re all turning on each other???
lol
OklahomaBrave
July 20th, 2009
5:23 pm
Enter your comments here
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:24 pm
MFin04 “Escobar shouldn’t have had to foul the pitch off, and it wasn’t an easy pitch to foul off, high and inside. If anyone should be blamed, it should be Bobby for hitting and running in the first place.”
Newsflash: It has been determined that Bobby Cox was single-handedly responsible for the expansion of the Vietnam War, and for the migration of fire ants from the south to North America.
scotty doo
July 20th, 2009
5:24 pm
Carroll are you taking the afternoon off or something?! if you are, im right there with ya. ha
BUZZMEAT
July 20th, 2009
5:24 pm
We can still Rip on Kelly Johnson!!!!!!!
pryguy
July 20th, 2009
5:24 pm
hoho,
Very true. His posts are more about himself than anything else, and i skip the majority of those as well.
OptimisticInTexas
July 20th, 2009
5:24 pm
TB, I was asking DOB the same question. Basically, isn’t there anybody with the AJC, Braves, MLB, or somebody that is perhaps more neutral to deal with Escobar and other Spanish speaking players?
No coverage of the Braves in Spanish? No outreach to the Atlanta Latino community? Marketing? In searching, I found MundoHispanico, a Cox-owned (same as AJC) weekly and the MLB Spanish site. And who does the MLB Web site pimp? http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/es/index.jsp?c_id=atl
You guessed it, Yunel Escobar.
So in short, I am willing to volunteer to help sort this out. If the team wants to compete, minus all the stupid distractions, Yunel needs a translator, much like Kawakami. Can’t the Braves afford that? Or are they just making matters worse?
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:25 pm
hoho
Yep, I just checked and he is STILL talking in there…..
MFin04
July 20th, 2009
5:25 pm
Anybody know why McLouth is in such a funk? I know he jammed his wrist the other day on a diving catch, but it seems like he hasn’t been able to hit anything lately?
DiamondJim
July 20th, 2009
5:26 pm
blazon Damond Jim…
the way Dish is showing that tuesday game in their guide under ‘Dish Season Ticket’ suggests some form of ppv to me…hope i’m wrong.
On my guide it’s listed under Sports Altenate Channel 449 at 8PM Tuesday. That’s not under the “Dish Season Ticket” or “PPV” section on my guide. Hopefully the game will be shown and not under a PPV situation. We will see tomorrow night!
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:26 pm
BUZZMEAT
It’s really hard to blast KJ, because besides having a lousy season, he is a decent guy with a modest ego. Not as much fun to rip him, when he is humble.
DiamondJim
July 20th, 2009
5:27 pm
that’s ‘Alternate’ of course! Danged computer keys keep moving!
OklahomaBrave
July 20th, 2009
5:28 pm
If we can’t find a bat before the deadline and are still playing good baseball I really think Heyward could get called up in Sept. The kid is developing at a rapid fire pace and could help this team down the stretch. Maybe in the end we can lock him up like the Rays did Longoria in buying out some arb years and a reasonable contract. The Future is bright.
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:28 pm
Sometimes I wonder if Jodie McDonald (on XM) is an idiot. He doesn’t know his Braves for sure, and he just mentioned that maybe the Giants should trade for Halladay, and then trade Cain for a bat.
Wow.
Great Thoughts While On Toilet
July 20th, 2009
5:29 pm
“We won, therefore Bobby Cox’s bullpen use was correct.”
“Fans of other teams dislike Jose Reyes, who is enthusiastic, therefore fans of other teams dislike enthusiasm.”
“People are skipping Paul Lentz’s long posts, therefore they have ADD.”
wheelz007
July 20th, 2009
5:29 pm
Also, for those of you who don’t think we have a chance to make the playoffs- WATCH THIS SERIES VS THE GIANTS.
If we’re able to win 3 of these games, we are definately in it.
Then we get the Brewers for 3 games- another team that’s ahead of us in the standings.
Guys, we’re 12-6 over our last 18 games. We’ve scored some runs, the D has been solid and we’ve pitched well.
This is a BIG, BIG series for our Braves…… starting tonight!
GO BRAVES!!!
Joebrave
July 20th, 2009
5:29 pm
All quiet on the trade front for the Braves! still holding my breath that Wren does’nt lose his mind and trade Escobar!
MFin04
July 20th, 2009
5:30 pm
Wayne – Not sure what all of that meant, but seriously, no reason to hit and run there. Yes, if Esco could foul it off he should have, but it wasn’t like it was right down the middle and he refused to foul it off. Even if he swung and missed, Diory would have been out by 2-3 feet instead of 4-5 feet.
There is a lot worse baseball being played by the Braves than not fouling that pitch off. No one can drive in runs, hit sac flys, hit sac bunts, etc. Not too worried about one high and inside pitch that was difficult to foul off. I’d be more worried about the 100’s of other offensive blunders by the Braves this year.
VaBraveFan
July 20th, 2009
5:30 pm
Nate has a history of being a really streaky hitter. Thats why his average is always floating around 260. but he draws walks and plays a good center field. And can get us some Stolen bases. He is like 0 for his last 16?? but he still drew 4 walks in one game, he wasnt pressing and trying to do to much and players tend to do that when struggling. Nate will be fine , he’ll hit 260ish with 20-25 hr 75-90 rbi which is damn good for our lead off guy.
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:30 pm
Oklahoma
If they are indeed thinking of bringing Heyward up, I don’t see them waiting until September. Then he would not qualify for the post season roster. I would expect a call-up in early August, if it happens (which is not probable).
chilidog75
July 20th, 2009
5:32 pm
Oklahoma, that would be the only way I would bring up Heyward this year. If he continues to hit well in AA, and you honestly think he can help get the team into the playoffs, then you can bring him up. But you better Longoria-contract him real quick once his clock starts.
Nova Scotia Steve
July 20th, 2009
5:32 pm
Wheelz07
I agree with you man…this is a big big series for Atlanta…and the only thing is…we should have swept Colorado before the all-star break…
Poor Gonzo needed some time off…and we just let that 8-7 game get away…but that’s in the past…Let’s beat the Giants!!!
BravesGrrrl
July 20th, 2009
5:33 pm
Folks get to get their undies out of a wad.
Joebrave
July 20th, 2009
5:33 pm
Cards GM John Mozeliak seems less interested in Halladay now that he has “lowered his sights in the trade market” and the Yankees and Red Sox don’t believe Ricciardi will deal within the division!!!
Keep this guy away from Wren and Vazquez!!!!
Roy Hobbs
July 20th, 2009
5:35 pm
Wayne, I am sure you are correct, it would be healthier not to rehash all this stuff. Its just that Charlie Morton pitched a wonderful game Saturday. I guess for me, the hope that some reminders of the mistakes of the past might quiet the calls for senseless trades.
I think many people fondly remember being able to make whatever trades we wanted and buy the guys needed to fill the wholes. With a middle of the pack payroll, the margin for error has gone down and we are living in a different reality.
Shamus Thacker
July 20th, 2009
5:36 pm
Today’s near meltdown.
I’m manifested with the only known case of “Barbecue-Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder.” Please bear with me, I can’t help this.
Any-damn-way, I was hard-core obsessing on pit-cooked pork barbecue from the early morning hours. I picked up a phone to dial the CPDC (Centers for Pork-Dependency Counseling) but hung up. My family performed an intervention; I performed their ejection. The whole damn world became a sick carnival of barbecue-sadism; I was reeling.
Then a friend picked me up, Bilbo’s, fine now.
Byeeee
OklahomaBrave
July 20th, 2009
5:36 pm
I just don’t see how you can’t fast track the kid when he’s hitting everthing. I know it’s a big jump but AJ handled it well. I have to think with the talent in the farm and from being a Georgia boy he would sign a contract that buys out arb time. At least I hope so.
MFin04
July 20th, 2009
5:37 pm
VaBraveFan – Agree with all of that except the stolen bases. Take a look at how many in stole for Pittsburgh in how many games….then take a look at how many for Atlanta in how many games.
Pitts 45 games, 7 stolen bases (1SB every 6.5 games)
Atl 35 games 4 stolen bases (1SB every 9 games)
Rodney Derrick
July 20th, 2009
5:37 pm
Sgt. Pepper– Try the two Afghan restaurants near the Washington Monument in Baltimore. I assume they are still there. They are owned by the brother of the President of Afghanistan. Also lots of great Greek food and seafood in Baltimore. Try the area where they filmed “The Wire”.
Joebrave
July 20th, 2009
5:37 pm
the Mets, for now, are the most expensive fourth-place team in history. Their $136MM payroll leads the NL.
Hilarious!
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:38 pm
MFin04
Did you see the pitch? It didn’t nearly hit him. It was inside. Cardinal rule of hit and run was broken. He screwed up. Not the end of the world, but just another nail in the proverbial coffin. If this were his only gaff of the year, nobody would be saying anything.
Also, if he had made some sort of short, sincere statement admitting he should have attempted to swing, again, no problem. Instead he makes some silly azzed statement about “talk to me when I get 3 hits”.
It was a 2-0 count. A great hit and run count. Whether you like it or not, Bobby called the play, and Yunel failed to execute, or even attempt to execute the play.
No matter how inside the pitch was, if it didn’t hit you, you try to make contact. Foul it off. Do whatever you can. Also, it doesn’t matter how fast the runner is, on a hit and run, you aren’t trying to steal a base. Your trying to turn the situation into a possible scoring scenario.
Let’s quit blaming the manager when the player clearly made the mistake.
That was my point. Lot’s of folks want to blame anything that goes south on the manager.
Anders
July 20th, 2009
5:38 pm
What’s up Braves fans? Nice job your boys did on my Mets (or at least what’s left of my Mets). Hey, the Braves did what they had to do. Kudos.
Gonna be a looonnnng second half for me and the rest of the Mets faithful. See why I didn’t hate the last two years even losing out on the last day of each season? I’d rather have that than this. Oh well, so be it.
I still think the Phils are primed to start pulling away. They’re better than most give them credit for. They know how to win and they’re tough.
Anders
July 20th, 2009
5:41 pm
Joebrave – About $40 mil of that has been on the DL. Give it a rest.
BTW- The Braves have about $30 mil a year tied up in two upper 30’s guy’s. We’ll see how funny that is over the next couple of years
Mitchell
July 20th, 2009
5:42 pm
Guys, we’re 12-6 over our last 18 games. We’ve scored some runs, the D has been solid and we’ve pitched well.
The Braves could have their own roller coaster at Six Flags. They already have a metaphorical one.
Okay, I have no idea what I’m saying.
But we lose Saturday in profoundly frustrating fashion and not until the second or third inning last night were we sure that they would rebound and get back to 500.
You have to admit, they have been looking like a different team the last couple of weeks but we have to start winning a lot more games.
12 and 6 over the last 18 but they need to do better. We know they lost some they simply should not have.
A 6 and 2 homestand would be really nice and it’s certainly possible but that’s how it’s got to be here on out.
I definitely feel a win tonight. Or not. We’ll see.
MFin04
July 20th, 2009
5:43 pm
Anders – One thing the Phillies can’t seem to do, is beat the Braves.
Wayne- Yeh, I saw the pitch. He could have wildly flailed at it, I just don’t think he could have hit it. That’s just what I thought after watching it 8-10 times. The funny part about Esco’s 3-hit statement is that the very next night he single-handedly won the game for the Braves with…coincidentally 3 hits.
And now he just won NL player of the week. I think he gets cut some slack this week, after making one mistake. You don’t hear Chipper apologizing after butchering every grounder hit at him after the 7th inning.
VaBraveFan
July 20th, 2009
5:44 pm
Yeah he hasnt stole many this year, but i think he is definitly capable of getting 20+ a year. I think were less likley to run cause our offense is poor, no need to make it worse by getting our few baserunners thrown out.
Anders
July 20th, 2009
5:45 pm
Anders – One thing the Phillies can’t seem to do, is beat the Braves. (MFin-04)
Hasn’t seemed to matter the last couple of years. Just sayin.
Wayne in Utah
July 20th, 2009
5:45 pm
Shamus
It ain’t nearly dinner time out here. Your making me hungry!